DTP02 said:
I can't believe, although I really can, that it's August and fear is still winning over facts in the the school reopening debate.
What is really unbelievable is how you still refuse to believe it. That's the nature of a novel virus. Nobody knows for certain what is going to happen.
In addition, when you use "fear" it carries a negative connotation. I contend that when you make a flawed argument valuing the head over the heart, you are failing to acknowledge that all decisions logical or not are tinged with emotion. Whether you believe that the virus creates a risk or not, the fear is real and the mitigation nightmare that awaits teachers when face-to-face instruction occurs is a cause for concern. I don't know if you have been in the classroom and recognize the complexities and challenges required to be an effective teacher. Now, add the myriad of measures that are in place to ensure the safety of everyone on campuses.
Also, using Sweden as the primary data point for opening campuses in the US is a never will be enough to convince teachers, staff, parents, health officials, and administration that there is little risk. Sweden did not do extensive research regarding schools and spread of the virus.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/how-sweden-wasted-rare-opportunity-study-coronavirus-schoolsQuote:
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The one country that could have definitively answered that question has apparently failed to collect any data. Bucking a global trend, Sweden has kept day care centers and schools through ninth grade open since COVID-19 emerged, without any major adjustments to class size, lunch policies, or recess rules. That made the country a perfect natural experiment about schools' role in viral spread that many others could have learned from as they reopen schools or ponder when to do so. Yet Swedish officials have not tracked infections among school childreneven when large outbreaks led to the closure of individual schools or staff members died of the disease.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-countries-reopened-schools-pandemic.html
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However, officials in Stockholm have admitted they don't know how the disease may have affected teachers, parents and other adults in schools.
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That complicates school reopenings in the U.S., with its soaring COVID-19 cases, limited testing capacity and decentralized education system. Most countries have national education systems. In the U.S., school officials in all 50 states must sort through the same politicized messaging and confusing data as everyone else to make their own decisions about whether, when and how to welcome back students.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/20200706-SchoolsSummary.pdf
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Seroprevalence surveys conducted by the Swedish Public Health Agency found that the antibody prevalence in children/teenagers was 4.7% compared with 6.7% in adults age 20-64 and 2.7% in adults age 65-70. The relatively high rate in children suggests there may have been significant spread in schools.
Here is one fact for you: until widespread community spread is lowered to at least 5% (3% in NYC), campuses around the country will remain closed. Here's how you can help: wear a mask, socially distance, acknowledge the challenges campuses and districts face, recognize that plans continue to change without centralized guidance, and stop telling people there is nothing to worry about when campuses reopen.
